Hot Mac Ashdod edges Hap J’lem in OT

Maccabi Ashdod followed up its stunning upset against Maccabi Tel Aviv with a BSL win over Hapoel Jerusalem.

By ALLON SINAI
Bradley 311 (photo credit: RAMEL BRADLEY has turned heads in his first year i)
Bradley 311
(photo credit: RAMEL BRADLEY has turned heads in his first year i)
Maccabi Ashdod followed up its stunning upset against Maccabi Tel Aviv with a BSL win over Hapoel Jerusalem on Monday night, winning 84-83 in overtime.
Ashdod avoided being brought down to earth in painful fashion as often happens to teams which defeat Tel Aviv, but only just, edging Jerusalem after a tight 45 minutes.
Seven straight points by Jerusalem center Brian Randle gave the visitors a three-point lead (72-69) with 55 seconds remaining in regulation, but Josh Carter hit three free throws to tie the score and the game went into overtime after Yuval Naimi missed a chance to win the encounter as time was about to expire.
Jerusalem still seemed well placed to clinch the win when Ramel Bradley, who joined Hapoel from Ashdod two weeks ago, hit one of two free throws to give the Reds an 83-81 lead.
However, Carter hit a clutch three-pointer with 7.8 seconds remaining to put Ashdod in the lead and the hosts clinched their third straight win when veteran Meir Tapiro stole the ball from Bradley.
Carter ended the game with 30 points, with Josh Duncan adding 18 points and 15 rebounds.
Bradley led Jerusalem with 23 points, while Naimi, who suffered a concussion late in the game, scored 16 and Randle added 12 points and nine rebounds.